The Emotional Costs of Parents' Conditional Regard: A Self‐Determination Theory Analysis

Abstract

Parents' use of conditional regard as a socializing practice was hypothesized to predict their children's introjected internalization (indexed by a sense of internal compulsion), resentment toward parents, and ill-being. In Study 1, involving three generations, mothers' reports of their parents' having used conditional regard to promote academic achievement predicted (a) the mothers' poor well-being and controlling parenting attitudes, and (b) their college-aged daughters' viewing them as having used conditional regard, thus showing both negative affective consequences from and intergenerational transmission of conditional regard. Study 2 expanded on the first by using four domains, including both genders, and examining mediating processes. College students' perceptions of their mothers' and fathers' having used conditional regard in four domains (emotion control, prosocial, academic, sport) were found to relate to introjected internalization, behavioral enactment, fluctuations in self-esteem, perceived parental disapproval, and resentment of parents. Introjection mediated the link from conditional regard to behavioral enactment. The results suggest that use of conditional regard as a socializing practice can promote enactment of the desired behaviors but does so with significant affective costs.

A Motivational Model of Video Game Engagement

“…Given the predominance of interest in violent game content, it is noteworthy that little research to date has examined how game structure might also shape short-term shifts in aggression through motivational processes. Past SDT research has shown that motivational processes based on psychological need deprivation can lead to more aggressive behavior in real-world contexts (Assor, Roth, & Deci, 2004;Ryan & Grolnick, 1986). Related research indicates that interfering with performance in goal pursuit, even in trivial tasks, can elicit heightened aggression (Berkowitz, 1989;Pedersen, Gonzales, & Miller, 2000).…”

Étude longitudinale du rôle du soutien conditionnel parental dans l’anxiété d’évaluation de l’élève

“…En revanche, ceux qui bénéficient d'un soutien inconditionnel se sentent encouragés et aimés pour ce qu'ils sont comme personne et non pour ce qu'ils font. Concrètement, les parents offrant un soutien conditionnel démontrent plus de chaleur et d'affection lorsque l'enfant se comporte ainsi qu'ils le souhaitent et en démontrent moins lorsqu'il ne se comporte pas comme attendu (Assor, Roth et Deci, 2004). Le soutien conditionnel offert est propre à différents domaines, par exemple le domaine scolaire.…”

“…Le soutien conditionnel offert est propre à différents domaines, par exemple le domaine scolaire. Selon la théorie de l'autodétermination (Assor, Roth et Deci, 2004;Deci et Ryan, 1985, la perception de l'élève que le soutien de ses parents est conditionnel à sa performance scolaire mène à la régulation introjectée. Par conséquent, l'élève intériorise les contraintes parentales et ressent de la culpabilité lorsqu'il n'agit pas de la façon attendue.…”

“…Volume XLIII: 2 -Automne 2015 www.acelf.ca dépression (Harter, 1999;Harter et Marold, 1993), de la faible estime de soi (Assor, Roth et Deci, 2004) et du désespoir (Harter et Marold, 1993;Harter, Marold, Whitesell et Cobbs, 1996) qu'il engendre, le soutien conditionnel nuisait à l'adaptation psychologique des élèves. Selon nous, ressentir qu'obtenir des résultats élevés à l'école est une condition pour préserver l'amour et le soutien de ses parents est de nature à augmenter le sentiment de menace et l'anxiété associée aux situations d'évaluation.…”

On psychological growth and vulnerability: Basic psychological need satisfaction and need frustration as a unifying principle.

“…Further, Assor, Roth and Deci (2004) showed that one type of controlling parenting, namely the use of conditional regard, promoted internal compulsion to Need Frustration and Vulnerability 20 engage in the parent-requested behaviors, and lowered wellness.…”